The fallout from Nigeria’s shock World Cup qualifying defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo has turned controversial, with Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle making extraordinary claims. Chelle accused the Congolese staff of resorting to supernatural tactics, stating they were “doing some voodoo” during the decisive penalty shootout that ended Nigeria’s World Cup dream.
The match, played on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, finished 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties, advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs. In his post-match comments, Chelle explained the heated on-field confrontation, saying, “The guy from Congo did some voodoo… Every time, every time. That’s why I was a bit nervous.”
When pressed for details, Chelle described seeing a member of the DR Congo bench repeatedly shaking his hand as if sprinkling “something water” toward the pitch during Nigerian penalty attempts. The Eric Chelle DR Congo Voodoo allegation follows footage showing the coach angrily confronting the opposing technical area after the winning penalty kick was scored.
While DR Congo has reportedly denied the accusations, the Eric Chelle DR Congo Voodoo claim has quickly dominated the conversation, overshadowing the football itself. The loss ensures Nigeria will miss a second consecutive World Cup, leading Chelle to resort to an unconventional explanation for his team’s unexpected elimination.
